Gustav expected to soon strengthen to Category 3

KEN KAYESun Sentinel

Published Wednesday, August 27, 2008

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Hurricane Gustav was predicted to remain well to the south of Florida as it churns west across the Caribbean. It also was expected to continue building strength to a major Category 3 tempest by the time it reaches the Gulf of Mexico.

But because atmospheric conditions could change -- and the system could surprise -- forecasters urged residents to stay vigilant.

"There still could be errors," said Rebecca Waddington, a meteorologist with the National Hurricane Center in Miami-Dade County.

Since Gustav emerged on Monday, its projected path has steadily shifted farther south of Florida, thanks to a ridge of high pressure to its north. But there are no guarantees the pressure will remain strong, Waddington said.

"If there is any weakness in that ridge, the track could turn back to the north," she said.

On Tuesday evening, Gustav, the third hurricane of the 2008 storm season, was about 120 miles southeast of Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, moving northwest at 10 mph with sustained winds of 75 mph.

Earlier in the day, the system struck southwest Haiti with driving rains and whipping winds. Trees toppled and thousands of coastal residents sought shelter. At least one man died in a landslide. A full account of the damage was not immediately available.

Under the latest projection, Gustav would brush the southeast coast of Cuba on Thursday and rake the west end of the island nation on Saturday. It was forecast to move into the middle of the Gulf of Mexico, where Texas or Louisiana appeared to be most under the gun.

If the current track holds, South Florida should feel little more than strong breezes on Friday night and Saturday, said meteorologist Andy Tingler of the National Weather Service in Miami.

Meanwhile, the hurricane center was monitoring two more tropical waves in the Atlantic. One was southwest of the Cape Verdes Islands and the other was northeast of the Leeward Islands.

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